hunch
UK: hʌntʃ | US: hʌntʃ
n. 1. An intuitive feeling or guess not based on clear evidence.
n. 2. A rounded hump or bend in the back or shoulders.
vt. 3. To raise or bend (the back or shoulders) into a hump.
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The word "hunch" likely originated as an onomatopoeic or expressive term, imitating the physical act of bending or crouching. Its earliest recorded uses in the 16th century referred to pushing or thrusting, later evolving to describe a stooped posture (17th century) and eventually an intuitive guess (19th century). The semantic shift reflects the metaphorical link between physical bending and mental "leaning" toward an idea.
She had a hunch that the meeting would be canceled.
The old man walked with a noticeable hunch in his back.
He hunched his shoulders against the cold wind.
My hunch turned out to be correct—they announced the news an hour later.
The cat hunched its back when it saw the dog.